Sunday 13 March 2011

Stand by to be Hellebored!

I just love hellebores and it has taken me years of trying to get them to establish themselves in my garden. I am no plantswoman and can't tell you their names. I do use the plant labels which come with the plants and stick them in the soil alongside, but find that during the winter these labels have been pulled out and lost. I'm just content that they grow for me.







These clumps are growing on the other side of the garden, and there is still one more plant whose leaves are different from the others, but it's flowers are not open yet.
Today has been absolutely glorious - whatever the weather throws at us next week, I really think spring has arrived. The frogs have been busy again and given us another big clump of frogspawn.
It is hard to believe that a few short weeks ago I photographed some fat green buds on our clematis. Now those buds are stems about a foot long.

Our latest acquisition is Arthur Bell, a climbing rose with perfumed golden yellow flowers. I don't think I shall be sitting in his shade this year but he's looking very healthy and will probably climb the pergola post before the summer is out and we might even get a flower or two. He takes the place of a clematis which refused to have any flowers.

It's not warm enough to sit outside yet of course, but lovely for a walk this morning with our daughter's dog - Poppy - who is always good company.





9 comments:

Gina said...

I love hellebores too. I planted some more last weekend.

Carol Q said...

never hellebored Heather. they are beautiful. particularly like the white background and crimson middle. must be spring if the frogspawn if appearing.

Penny said...

I can only manage one hellebore here in a very sheltered spot in my garden in Oz but I do love them, yours are such lovely colours.

Elizabeth said...

I have to say that I am another hellebore lover. We have quite a few, including one I wanted for years, helleborus foetidus, mainly because of its name! Its leaves are quite different from the other hellebores, and it grows quite tall.
Elizabeth in South Australia

Downunderdale said...

your garden is looking gorgeous Heather

Maggi said...

Your hellebores are so lovely and your garden is looking very inviting. it is good to see all the new growth appearing after the winter we have had.

Julie said...

Hellebores are lovely aren't they? Your garden looks lovely too. We have frogspawn in our pond too. I'm relieved cos I thought the extreme cold might have killed the frogs off.

Robin Mac said...

I love looking at hellebore pictures - living in the tropics I can only dream about them. Your garden looks so pretty. Thanks for your comments on my blog.

Sara lechner said...

I'm so looking forward to be in the UK from next September to May. I just found the cottage where I'm going to stay with my daughter!